Distributer unit for ignition systems



R. H. INHISLER.

DISTRIBUTEII 'UNIT FOR IGNITION SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FIL'ED IIAYS'I. 1919.

1,370,077. Patbnmd Mar. 1, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- I INvENmv:

1B1 by 3/ Ams;

R. H. WHISLER.

, msmmum: um FOR mmnon SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED IAYIH, I919.

Patented Mar. 1, 1921 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- v Iwm v: W

' ATtys- UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

RALPH H. WHISLER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO ESSEX MOTCBS, OF

' DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

DISTRIBUTER UN IT FCR IGNITION SYSTEMS.

Application filed Kay 31,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RALPH H. WHIsLnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county-of IVayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and uset'ul Improvement in Distributer Units for discharge gap and the primar Ignition Systems, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to ignition appatermed'a high tension, high frequency ignition. Such a system comprises three circuits, in one of which is spark timing means there being in the first circuit an electromotivc source, and the primary winding of 'an induction coil. In the second circuit, there is the secondary winding of the induction coil, a condenser charged thereby, a fixed winding ofa disruptive discharge coil. he third circuit includes the secondary winding of the discharge coil and the electrodes of. the spark plug which is located in the combustion space of the engine with which the sys tem is used. My present invention consists in the combination of the condenser and the fixed discharge gap which form a part of -the second circuit with the moving member vice shown and described in my present application does away with this trouble.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof will be pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at the close of this s ecification.

In the drawings, igure 1 1s a vertical I section of the distributer unit embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a section on line Zr-"2 of Big. 1.

Fig. 3 isgadetail' of the rotor.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1, 1921. 1919. Serial no. 301,070. I

, Fig. 4 is a wiring plan showing the relation system in which the distributer unit' embodying my invention may be used. Circu1t,A contains a battery D, or other source of electromotive force, a circuit controller E which is operated by a cam F in time with the engine, a condenser G conn'ected' across the terminals of the circuit controller,-

and the primary winding H of an induction 0011. The second circuit B which is here shown 'as grounded contains the secondary winding I of the induction coil, a condenser 24, a fixed discharge gap K, a distributer.

L, and the primary winding M ofa disruptive discharge coil. In the third circuit (3, is the secondary winding N of the disruptive discharge coil and a spark plug P.

The distributor unit shown in Fig. 1 contains in addition to the usual rotor and con tact points, the condenser 24, and fixed discharge gap K.' This v distributerunitwill' now be described. r I I At 11 is shown a standard or base witlr in \vhich'is mounted a vertical shaft 12mptated in time with the engine. It will, also be understood that this shaft being practically a part of the engine is electrically grounded.v Mounted on the upper end of the shaft 12 is a flanged member 13. Se-

cured to this flange member 13 is a casing 14 of suitable molded insulating material such for instance as mica and shellac compound or bakelite. This casing is provided with, a central contact member 5 in line axially with the shaft 12, and a spring-actuated button 16 slidably mountedin athimble 17 situated near the periphery of the casing 14. A spring 18 pushesthe button 16 upward. Secured to the central contact member 5 is .onemember 9 of the fixed spark gap, the other member 2 be1ng supported on an upwardly pro3ect1ng strip 4 which is molded into the insulating materlal of the casing 14. This strip is electrically connected with the thimble 17 The fixed spark point 9 is screw-threaded and passes through the central contact member 5 being provided on its outer end with a check nut 3. It is provided, at a' with a hexagonal portion for the reception of a wrench. By

turning the spark point 9 in or out of the central contact member,' the gap may be varied and the adjustment corrected or changed.

The flange 13 and casing 14 which together constitute the rotor of the distributor contain the condenser 24 one set of plates of which are connected by the wire 25 to the central contactmember 5 while the other set of plates are connected to a wire 26 and then to the spring contact 27 which is embedded .in the flange 13 and is in electricalcontact with the distributer shaft 12. When in place in 'the casing, the condenser rests on the spring contact so that the condenser is grounded on one side and on the other is .connected tothe central contact member 5.

' The rotor of the distributer is incased by a cover 30 secured to the base 11 in any suitable manner as by spring snaps 31. This icover is of molded insulating material and is provided with contact points 32 embedded iii; the insulating material, these contact points being in number equal to the number of cylinders which are to be fired by the ignition system." Wiresleading to two of t e spark lug coil unitsv are shown at 33, 33

.inFig. 1. he cover 30 is also provided with jaeconical-pointed central contact member 6 "-svhich rests on the" central contact member Q5 'o'fthe rotor when the cover 30 is in place.

This contact member is held down by a spring 7' and is connectedby a wire 36 with a transformer coil I.'

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the condenser and fixed spark gap are located in a self-contained 'unit forming part of the rotor of the distributer. The con- 1 denser is completely incased by the casing of the rotor and, therefore, fully protected from moisture. The spark gap is easily adjusted by removing the distributer cover 30,

and is also well protected from moisture by :said cover. Furthermore, being located on ache rotor itself, it moves rapidly through the air whenever the engine is turning over, and this tends to keep the points dry.

What I claim is, Y o,

1. The distributer for; an ignition system comprising in combination a casing having contact members therein, a rotor having a button for contact with said contact members, and a condenser and a spark gap carand a condenser contained within said rotor and so connected that the condenser will dischargeacross the spark gap to the traveling contact on the rotor.

3. In combination a cover having a series of stationary contact points therein and a central contact men ber, a-rotor having a centrally disposed contact member to cooperate with the contact member of the said-cover, a traveling contact gap one member 0 which is secured'to said central contact member of the said rotor and the other member of which is mounted on said rotor and is electrically connected to the said traveling contact member. I

4. In combination, a cover having a series point, and a fi'xedspark of stationary contact points therein and a central contact member, a rotorhaving a centrally disposed contact member to cooperate with the contact member of the said cover, a traveling contact point" and a fixed spark gap one member of which is secured to said central cdntact member of the said rotor and another member of which is mounted on said rotor and electrically connected to the said'traveling contact member, a condenser electrically connected to the said central contact member and grounded to a metallic portion of the rotor.

5. In an ignition system, the combination with astandard, a shaft in said standard, a

rotor mounted on said shaft and having a central contact member, a coversecured to said standardand covering said rotor,-said' cover being provided with a plurality of fixed contact points and a central contact member, a traveling contact member on said rotor, and a condenser and a spark gap car ried by said rotor and so connected that the condenser will discharge acnoss the spark gap to the traveling contact on said rotor.

6. In a distributor for an ignitionsystem, the rotor comprising'a flange for attachment to a shaft, a casing secured to the said'fiange,

said casing being of insulating material, two contact members mounted on the eating, a. condenser connected to one of the contact members and to the shaft, and a spark gap electrically connecting said contact members to each other. P

7 In a distributor for an ignition system the rotor comprising a flange for attachment to a shaft, a casing secured to thesaid flange,

said flange and casing being of insulating.

material, two contact members mounted on the casing, a'condenser contained within the said casing connected to one of the contact members and to the shaft, and a spark gap on the exterior of the said casing electrically connecting said contact members to each other. r

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RALPH H. WHISLER. 

